Shower arm attachment assembly

ABSTRACT

A shower arm attachment assembly including an arm coupling member, a shower pipe coupling member, and a locking member. The arm coupling member may fluidly connect to a shower arm for a showerhead and the shower pipe coupling member may fluidly connect to a shower pipe. The arm coupling member connects to the shower pipe coupling member and is selectively rotatably relative thereto. The locking member selectively controls rotation of the arm coupling member relative to the shower pipe coupling member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/869,183 entitled “Showerhead Attachment Assembly,” filed onOct. 9, 2007, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) toU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/828,741, entitled “ShowerheadAttachment Assembly” and filed on Oct. 9, 2006, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The field of invention generally relates to showerheads, and moreparticularly to showerhead connections.

b. Background Art

To locate a showerhead overhead rather than at the side of a showerstall, the showerhead may be attached to the end of an arm, which inturn may be attached to a water outlet pipe of the shower stall. Forpositioning a standard overhead showerhead at a desired verticallocation and the showerhead face at a desired orientation relative toarm's longitudinal axis, the arm may be fitted with one or more jointsformed from an assembly of parts to pivot the arm relative to the wateroutlet and the showerhead relative to the arm. Undesired verticalmovement of the standard overhead showerhead relative to the wateroutlet pipe is generally prevented using a friction mechanism such aswinged nut to adjust the friction between pivoting parts in the joint.

Generally, standard overhead shower arm assemblies that utilize frictionmechanisms for vertical adjustment of the showerhead via pivoting thearm relative to the water outlet may minimize undesired verticalmovement of the showerhead relative to the water outlet pipe for lightshowerheads, thus maintaining such a light showerhead in the desiredposition. However, these standard shower arm assemblies often to fail tomaintain the vertical position of a relatively large or heavy showerheador a showerhead constructed of a denser material, such as a metal. Thus,standard shower arms using standard friction mechanisms to preventvertical showerhead movement are unsuitable for many modernapplications.

Adjusting the position of the showerhead under water pressure can alsobe problematic. Specifically, when the friction mechanisms are adjustedto permit positioning of the showerhead, water often leaks through theloosened joints. Additionally, a user can inadvertently disassemble thestandard overhead showerhead arm assembly by unscrewing the typicalwinged nut friction mechanism too far, and thus possibly injure the userand/or have small components of the arm assembly fall into the shower'sdrain.

Yet another issue with a typical overhead shower arm assembly involvesthe coupling members or assemblies used to attach the shower arm to theshower pipe. Often, the coupling members or assemblies permit relativelylittle or limited rotational adjustment of the arm around the showerpipe's longitudinal axis before the water-tightness between the showerpipe and the coupling member is compromised.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include a firstmember, a second member, and a locking member, such as a sleeve orlocking nut. The first member may be in fluid communication with ashowerhead. The second member may be attachable to a shower pipe. Thesecond member may be selectively rotatably joined to the first member.The locking member may be selectively engageable with a joinder betweenthe first and second member. When engaged, the sleeve may substantiallyprevent rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

Another embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include afirst member, a second member, and a third member. The first member maybe in fluid communication with a showerhead and may include a firstkeying feature. The second member may be attachable to a shower pipe andmay include a second keying feature for engagement with the first keyingfeature to substantially prevent rotation of the second member relativeto the first member. The third member may be selectively engageable withthe first member and the second member. When engaged, the third membermay join the first member with the second member and may engage thefirst keying feature with the second keying feature.

Yet another embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include afirst member, a second member, a third member and a fourth member. Thefirst member may be in fluid communication with a showerhead. The secondmember may be joined to the first member and may be rotatable relativeto the first member. The third member may fluidly join the second memberto a shower pipe water outlet. The fourth member may be selectivelyengageable with the second member. When engaged, the fourth member maysubstantially prevent rotation of the first member relative to thesecond member.

Still yet another embodiment of a shower arm assembly may include anarm, a shower arm attachment assembly, and an arm rotation assembly. Theshower arm attachment assembly may include an arm coupling member. Thearm rotation assembly may include a connector rod, a nut, and aretaining clip. The nut may be joined to the connector rod and may beoperative with the connector rod to press together the arm couplingmember and the arm. The retaining clip may be attached to the connectorrod and may operative with the connector rod to prevent disassembly ofthe arm from the arm coupling member.

Yet another embodiment of a shower arm assembly may include an arm, ashower arm attachment assembly, and an arm rotation assembly. The armmay include a first keying feature. The shower arm attachment assemblymay include an arm coupling member with a second keying feature forengagement with the first keying feature to substantially preventrotation of the arm relative to the arm coupling member. The armrotation assembly may include a connector rod, a nut, and a connectorrod. The nut may be joined to the connector rod and may be operativewith the connector rod to press together the arm coupling member and thearm to engage the first keying feature with the second keying feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a top perspective view of a shower arm assemblyconnected to a shower pipe.

FIG. 1B depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm assembly ofFIG. 1A viewed along line 1B-1B in FIG. 1A, showing an arm rotation nutconfigured in its tightened position.

FIG. 1C depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm assembly ofFIG. 1 a viewed along line 1B-1B in FIG. 1A, showing the arm rotationnut configured in its loosened position.

FIG. 1D depicts a partially exploded, cross-sectional perspective viewof the shower arm assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A depicts a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a showerarm attachment assembly showing a locking sleeve in a first position.

FIG. 2B depicts another top perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 2A, showing the locking sleeve in a secondposition.

FIG. 2C depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 2A, viewed along line 2C-2C in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 2A, viewed along line 2D-2D in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2E depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 2A, viewed along line 2E-2E in FIG. 2D.

FIG. 2F depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of 2A, viewed along line 2F-2F in FIG. 2D.

FIG. 2G depicts an exploded perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A depicts a top perspective view of a second embodiment of ashower arm attachment assembly showing a locking nut in a firstposition.

FIG. 3B depicts another top perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 3A, showing the locking nut in a secondposition.

FIG. 3C depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 3A, viewed along line 3C-3C in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 3A, viewed along line 3D-3D in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3E depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 3A, viewed along line 3E-3E in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3F depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 3A, viewed along line 3F-3F in FIG. 3D.

FIG. 3G depicts an exploded perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A depicts a top perspective view of a shower arm attachmentassembly, showing a locking nut in a first position.

FIG. 4B depicts another top perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 4A, showing the locking nut in a secondposition.

FIG. 4C depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 4A, viewed along line 4C-4C in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 4A, viewed along line 4D-4D in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4E depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 4A, viewed along line 4E-4E in FIG. 4D.

FIG. 4F depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 4A, viewed along line 4F-4F in FIG. 4D.

FIG. 4G depicts an exploded perspective view of the shower armattachment assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4H depicts a perspective view of a arm coupling member for theshower arm attachment assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A depicts a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of ashower arm attachment assembly.

FIG. 5B depicts a cross-sectional view of the shower arm attachmentassembly of FIG. 5A, viewed along line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly may include an armcoupling member in fluid communication with a shower pipe couplingmember. The arm coupling member may also be in fluid communication witha showerhead, and the shower pipe coupling member may also be in fluidcommunication with a shower pipe as well as, in some embodiments,attached directly to the shower pipe. In some embodiments, the armcoupling member and the shower pipe coupling member may be joinedtogether using a snap ring, collar, or other suitable device to allowselective rotation of the arm coupling member relative to the showerpipe coupling member. In such embodiments, a sleeve, nut, or the likemay be selectively engageable with the arm coupling member and theshower pipe coupling member to selectively prevent rotation of the armcoupling member relative to the shower pipe coupling member.

In another embodiment of the shower arm attachment assembly, the armcoupling member and the shower pipe coupling member may be joinedtogether in select relative rotational positions to each other using akeying feature. The keying feature may also substantially preventrotation of the arm coupling member relative to the shower pipe couplingmember when the coupling members are joined together. In someembodiments, the keying feature may have a first portion on one of thearm and shower pipe coupling members, and a second, complementaryportion on the other coupling member. In some of these embodiments, thefirst portion may take the form of a shaft with projections that engagegrooves formed on the second complementary portion of the other member,which may receive the shaft. In other of these embodiments, the firstand second portions may take the form of engaging projections onabutting surfaces of each member. A threaded sleeve, a nut or the likemay join the arm coupling member with the shower pipe coupling member.

In yet another embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly and asshown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a shower arm cross member may be joined to athreaded stud, which in turn is joined to a threaded tee. The threadedstud may be selectively rotatable relative to the threaded stud. Thethreaded tee may be joined to the shower pipe with a shower pipe nut. Ajam nut may be threadedly received on the threaded tee to substantiallyprevent selective rotation of the threaded stud relative to the threadedtee. The various embodiments of showerhead attachment assemblies may beused to fluidly join showerheads to shower pipes.

FIG. 1A depicts a showerhead 100 joined to a shower pipe 105 by an armassembly 110. The arm assembly 110 may include a showerhead attachmentmember 115, an arm 120, an arm rotation assembly 125, a shower armattachment assembly 130, and a showerhead rotation assembly 135. Asdescribed in more detail below in connection with various embodiments ofthe shower arm attachment assembly 130, the shower arm attachmentassembly mechanically 130 and fluidly joins the arm 120 to the showerpipe 105. In some embodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS. 1A and3A, the shower arm attachment assembly 130 may include an arm couplingmember 305 joined to a shower pipe coupling member 310 using a lockingnut 315.

The showerhead rotation assembly 135 may be used to adjust of the angleof the showerhead's face relative to the arm's longitudinal axis. Theshowerhead rotation assembly 135 may include a showerhead rotation nut140, which may be selectively tightened or loosened to increase ordecrease the friction between the showerhead attachment member 115 andthe arm 120. The showerhead rotation nut 140 may be winged to provide agripping feature for a user to grasp when tightening or loosening thenut 140. As the friction is increased or decreased, the ability torotate the showerhead attachment member 115 relative to the arm 120around the showerhead rotation assembly's longitudinal axis decreases orincreases, respectively.

The arm rotation assembly 125 adjusts and maintains the verticalposition of the showerhead 100 relative to the shower pipe 105. Moreparticularly, the arm rotation assembly 125 may include an arm rotationnut 145, which may be selectively tightened or loosened to prevent orallow the arm 120 to pivot relative to the shower arm attachmentassembly 130 by rotating the arm 120 around the arm rotation assembly'slongitudinal axis as described in more detail below. As the arm 120 ispivoted relative to the shower arm attachment assembly 130, the verticalposition of the showerhead 100 relative to the shower pipe 105 changes.Like the showerhead rotation nut 140, the arm rotation nut 145 may bewinged to facilitate tightening or loosening of the nut 140 by a user.

FIG. 1B depicts a cross-sectional view of the arm assembly 100 depictedin FIG. 1A viewed along line 1B-1B with the arm rotation nut 145 in atightened configuration to substantially prevent rotation of the arm 120relative to the shower arm attachment assembly 130. FIG. 10 is across-sectional view similar to the one shown in FIG. 1B except the armrotation nut 145 is positioned in a loosened configuration to allowrotation of the arm 120 relative to the arm attachment assembly 130.

The arm rotation assembly 125 may include the arm rotation nut 145, asleeve 150, a sleeve washer 155, an E-ring 160, and a connector rod 165.Together, the sleeve 150 and the connector rod 165 press together thearm 120 and an arm coupling member 305 as the rotation nut 145 istightened. More particularly, the connector rod 165 includes a rod shaft170. The rod shaft 170 extends through a hollow arm connection portion175 of the arm coupling member 305, a tube section 180 of the arm 120, ahole in the sleeve washer 155, and a hole in the sleeve 150. A threadedhole 182 formed in the arm rotation nut 145 receives a threaded endportion of the rod shaft 165. An opposite end of the rod shaft 165includes a circular rod end flange 184. A collar segment 186 of the armcoupling member 305 receives the rod end flange 184.

As the rotation nut 145 is tightened by threading the connector rod 165into the threaded hole 182, the rotation nut 145 bears against thesleeve 150, which in turn bears against the arm 120. The rotation nut145 also pulls the connector rod 165 towards the rotation nut 145 as itis tightened, which causes the rod end flange 184 of the connector rod165 to bear against the arm coupling member 305. The sleeve 150 bearingagainst the arm 120 combined with the connector rod 165 bearing againstthe arm coupling member 305 presses together the arm 120 and the armcoupling member 305.

When pressed together, rotation of the arm 120 relative to the armcoupling member 305 around the longitudinal axis of the connector rod165 is prevented by a keying feature associated with either or both ofthe arm coupling member 305 and the arm 120. More particularly, thearm's tube section 180 receives a splined segment 186 of the armcoupling member 305. As shown in FIG. 1D, an end of the splined segment186 includes multiple splines 188. When the arm coupling member 305 andthe arm 120 are pressed together, these splines 188 engage matchinggrooves defined by multiple splines 190 (see FIG. 1D) formed on theinterior surface of the tube section 180 abutting the splined end of thearm coupling member 305. When engaged, rotation of the arm couplingmember 305 relative to the arm 120 is prevented by this interconnectionof the splines 188, 190.

In some embodiments, matching splines are formed along the longitudinalabutting surfaces of the arm coupling member's splined segment 186 andthe arm tube section 180 in lieu of, or in combination with, the splines188, 190. In yet other embodiments, the end of the splined segment 186and the interior surface of the tube section 180 proximate this end maydefine square, hexagonal, oval or other suitable shapes that restrict orotherwise limit rotation of the arm coupling member 305 relative to thearm 120 when pressed together.

To disengage the splines 188, 190, a user loosens the rotation nut 145by unthreading it from the connector rod 165. When sufficientlyloosened, the user may pull apart the arm 120 and the arm couplingmember 305 sufficiently to disengage each components' respective splines188, 190. Once disengaged, the user may rotate the arm 120 relative tothe arm coupling member 305 around the connector rod 165 to adjust thevertical position of the showerhead 100 relative to the shower pipe 105.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, an E-ring 160 or other suitable retainingelement, such as a C-ring, is joined to the connector rod 165 between anarm end wall 195 and the threads on the connector rod 165 to limit theamount of separation between the arm 120 and the arm coupling member305. Specifically, as the arm 120 and the arm coupling member 305 areseparated, the arm end wall 195 pushes the E-ring 160 against thethreads on the connector rod 165, which prevents further movement of thearm 120 away from the arm coupling member 305. The amount of permittedseparation is a function of the distance between the circular rod flange184 and the connector rod threads compared to the length of the joinedarm tube section 180 and the arm coupling member connection portion 175along the longitudinal axis of the connector rod 165. This permittedseparation distance is selected to allow a user to at least sufficientlyseparate the arm 120 and the arm coupling member 305 to disengage theirrespective splines 188, 190.

Positioning the E-ring 160 on the connector rod 165 as described abovealso prevents a user from inadvertently disassembling of the connectorrod 165, the arm 120, and the arm coupling member 305 when unthreadingthe arm rotation nut 145 from the connector rod 165. More particularly,if a user unthreads the arm rotation nut 145 too much, only the armrotation nut 145, the sleeve 150 and the sleeve washer 155 may becomedisconnected from the arm assembly 110. The arm 120, the connector rod165, and the arm coupling member 305 will remain joined together, evenunder water pressure, by the E-ring 160 because the E-ring limits theamount of separation between the arm 120 and the arm coupling member 305and keeps the connector rod 165 joined to these two components. This, inturn, limits the potential for a user to be injured by an inadvertentdisassembly of these components.

The E-ring 160 also allows for a user to vertically position theshowerhead 100 relative to the shower pipe 105 under water pressurewithout water leaking out of the arm assembly 110. More particularly,the maximum amount of separation between the arm 120 and the armcoupling member 305 permitted by the E-ring 160 is selected so thatvarious O-rings 192, 194, 196 strategically positioned between theconnector rod 165, the arm 120, and the arm coupling member 305 as shownfor example in FIGS. 1B and 10 maintain water-tight seals between thesevarious components at the joints formed by them. Thus under waterpressure, the rotation nut 145 may be loosened to permit the arm 120 andarm coupling member 305 to be separated for vertical positioning of theshowerhead 100 without water leaking through the various joints formedby the arm 120, the rod connector 165 and the arm coupling member 305because the O-rings 192, 194, 196 continue to maintain the water sealsbetween these components at the maximum amount of separation between thearm 120 and the arm coupling member 305.

The connector rod 165 may include a generally cylindrical intermediaterod flange 198 located between the connector rod threads and the rod endflange 184. A generally circular hole in the arm end wall 195 receivesthe intermediate rod flange 198. At least a portion of thecross-sections of the intermediate wall flange 198 and the end wall holemay be shaped to substantially prevent rotation of the connector rod 165relative to the arm 120 around the connector rod's longitudinal axis.For example, at least a portion of the cross-sections of theintermediate rod flange 198 and the end wall hole may be oval shaped asshown in FIG. 1D. In other embodiments, cross-sectional portions of theintermediate wall flange 198 and the end wall hole may be square,hexagonal or any other suitable shape to substantially prevent rotationof the connector rod 165 relative to the arm 120.

With continued references to FIGS. 1B-1D, a groove formed in theintermediate rod flange 198 receives an O-ring 192 to seal the jointformed between the arm 120 and the connector rod 165. A groove formed inthe arm coupling member's splined segment 186 receives an O-ring 194 toseal the joint formed between the arm 120 and the arm coupling member305. A groove formed in the rod end flange 184 receives an O-ring 196 toseal the joint formed between the arm coupling member 305 and the rodconnector 165. These seals each prevent leakage of water through theassociated joints formed by the arm 120, the connector rod 165, and thearm coupling member 305. Any of the grooves for receiving the O-rings192, 194, 196 may be formed in the other component forming the jointsealed by these O-rings 192, 194, 196 rather the component depicted inFIGS. 1B and 1C, or may be formed in both components.

Returning to FIG. 1A, the showerhead rotational assembly 135 may besimilar to the arm rotational assembly 125 and may operate in a similarmanner. More particularly, the arm rotational assembly 125 may include ashowerhead rotation nut 140, a sleeve 142, a connector rod (not shown),a sleeve washer (not shown), and an E-ring (not shown). In a mannersimilar to the arm rotational assembly 125, the showerhead rotation nut140, the sleeve 142 and the connector rod (not shown) may press togetherthe showerhead attachment member 115 and a second arm tube section 144to substantially prevent rotation of the showerhead attachment member115 relative to the arm 120 when the showerhead rotation nut 140 istightened. Likewise, loosening the showerhead rotation nut 140 allows auser to rotate the showerhead attachment member 115 relative to the arm120. Also similar to the arm rotation assembly 125, the E-ring or othersuitable retaining device (not shown) may be joined to the connector rod(not shown) to limit the maximum distance that the showerhead attachment115 and the arm 120 can be pulled apart.

A first embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly 200 is depictedin FIGS. 2A-2G. This shower arm attachment assembly 200 may be used withthe arm assembly 110 shown in FIG. 1A. With reference to FIGS. 2A and2B, the shower arm attachment assembly 200 may include an arm couplingmember 205 joined to a shower pipe coupling member 210. The shower pipecoupling member 210, in turn, may be joined to a shower pipe 105. Theshower pipe 105 delivers water to the shower arm coupling assembly 200,and ultimately to an attached showerhead 100 (see FIG. 1), from a waterheater, a water reservoir, or other suitable water source (not shown).

The arm coupling member 205 may include a shower pipe connection portion215 for joining the arm coupling member 205 to the shower pipe couplingmember 210. When joined, the arm coupling member 205 may be rotatedrelative to the shower pipe coupling member 210 as described in moredetail below. The arm coupling member 205 may also have an armconnection portion 220 for joining the arm coupling member 205 to ashowerhead arm (not shown) fluidly joined to a showerhead (not shown).The arm connection portion 220 may be joined to its shower pipeconnection portion 215 by an intermediate portion 225. The shower pipeconnection portion 215, arm connection portion 220, and the intermediateportion 225 may be integrally formed, or may be separate elements joinedtogether by adhesives, heat or sonic welds, mechanical fasteners, anyother suitable means for joining elements together, or any combinationthereof.

An outer surface of the arm coupling member's shower pipe connectionportion 215 may define multiple flat surfaces. The shower pipeconnection portion 215 may be, for example, square or hexagonal incross-section. These surfaces may generally correspond to matchingsubstantially flat surfaces defined by an outer surface of the showerpipe coupling member 210, which may have a cross-section matching thatof the shower pipe connection portion 215. When these surfaces for theshower pipe coupling member 210 and the arm coupling member 205 aregenerally aligned as shown in FIG. 2A, a locking sleeve 230 or othersuitable device may be moved over the arm and shower pipe couplingmembers 205, 210 as shown in FIG. 2B. As described in more detail below,because the cross-section of the locking sleeve's interior generallycorrelates to the outer surfaces of the arm and shower pipe couplingmembers 205, 210 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2E and 2F), positioning the lockingsleeve 230 over the arm and shower pipe coupling members 205, 210typically prevents rotation of the shower pipe coupling member 210relative to the arm coupling member 205 around the longitudinal axismarked as A-A on FIG. 2C.

Turning to the cross-section views of FIG. 2C (which shows the lockingsleeve 230 in its unlocked position) and 2D (which shows the lockingsleeve 230 in its locked position), the shower pipe coupling member 210may be threadedly joined to the shower pipe 105, or joined by any othersuitable method including by press fitting, clamping, welds, and so on.When the shower pipe coupling member 210 and the shower pipe 105 arethreadedly joined, the shower pipe coupling member 210 may have threadsformed on an inner surface to mate with threads formed on an outersurface to the shower pipe 105 as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, or viceversa.

In some embodiments, the shower pipe coupling member's threads arenational pipe taper (“NPT”) threads. NPT threads provide lockingresistance to substantially prevent rotation of the entire showerheadassembly relative to the shower pipe 105. More particularly, when theshowerhead pivot assembly 115 (shown in FIG. 1) is positioned at anelevation above the arm pivot assembly 125, a sufficient torque aroundthe longitudinal axis of the shower pipe 105 may be generated to unscrewthe shower pipe coupling member 210 from the shower pipe 105 when usingstraight pipe threads such as NPSM and NPSH threads. NPT threads, incontrast, effectively resist this torque, and thus prevent theunscrewing of the shower pipe coupling member 210, which then preventsrotation of the showerhead assembly relative to the shower pipe 105.However, threads other than NPT, including NPSM and NPSH, may be used ifdesired.

Proximate the threads, the interior surface of the shower pipe couplingmember 210 may form a groove or step for receiving a shower pipe O-ring235 or other suitable seal element. The shower pipe O-ring 235 forms awater-tight seal between the shower pipe coupling member 210 and theshower pipe 105 to substantially prevent water from leaking through thejoint formed between them.

A coupling member O-ring groove 240 may be defined in the exteriorsurface of the shower pipe coupling member 210 for receiving a couplingmember O-ring 245 or other suitable seal element. If desired, thecoupling member O-ring groove 240 may be formed in the interior surfaceof the arm coupling member 205 rather than formed in the exteriorsurface of the shower pipe coupling member 210, or may be formed in thesurfaces of both members 205, 210. The coupling member O-ring 245 formsa water-tight seal at the joint between the arm coupling member 205 andthe shower pipe coupling member 210 to substantially prevent water fromleaking out of the shower arm attachment assembly 200 through thisjoint.

Still with reference to FIGS. 2C and 2D, proximate the arm couplingmember 205, a snap ring groove 250 may be formed in an exterior surfaceof the shower pipe coupling member 210. When the arm coupling member 205and the shower pipe coupling member 210 are joined as shown in FIGS. 2Cand 2D, the snap ring groove 250 may align with a snap ring groove 255defined in an interior surface of the arm coupling member 205. Together,these aligned snap ring grooves 250, 255 define an annular snap ringpocket for receiving a snap ring 260 or other suitable joining element.The snap ring 260 joins the arm coupling member 205 to the shower pipe210 coupling member while allowing the arm coupling member 205 to beselectively rotated relative to the shower pipe coupling member 210around the longitudinal axis marked A-A on FIG. 2C. By rotating the armcoupling member 205 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 210, anarm (such as the arm 120 shown in FIG. 1 a) attached to the arm couplingmember 205 may be rotated relative to a shower pipe 105 attached to theshower pipe coupling member 210 about longitudinal axis A-A.

Rotation of the arm coupling member 205 relative to the shower pipecoupling member 210 may be prevented by engaging the locking sleeve 230with each member 205, 210. More particularly, the locking sleeve 230 maybe positioned over the arm coupling member 205 and the shower pipecoupling member 210, as shown in FIG. 2D. When moved to such a position,an interior surface of the locking sleeve 230 engages the outer surfacesof the arm coupling member 205 and the shower pipe coupling member 210as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F, thereby preventing rotation of the armcoupling member 205 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 210.

To position the locking sleeve 230 over the arm and shower pipe couplingmembers 205, 210, the generally flat exterior surfaces of the armcoupling member 205 are aligned with the flat surfaces of the showerpipe coupling member 210 as shown in FIG. 2A. Such alignment may beachieved by rotating the shower pipe coupling member 210 relative to thearm coupling member 205 until the generally flat exterior surfaces foreach member 205, 210 align. With reference to FIGS. 2E and 2F, in oneembodiment, each coupling member 205, 210 may have six substantiallyflat exterior surfaces, which allow the arm coupling member 205 to beplaced in six rotational positions relative to the shower pipe couplingmember 210 for engagement with the locking sleeve 230. Further, thelocking sleeve 230 may have six generally flat interior surfaces tomatch and engage the substantially flat exterior surfaces of thecoupling members 205, 210. The coupling members 205, 210 and the lockingsleeve 230 may have more or fewer than six flat surfaces to increase ordecrease the number of rotational positions of the coupling members 205,210 relative to each other that permit the locking sleeve 230 to be slidover them. Further, other types of non-rotational surfaces, such asovoid and D-shaped surfaces, may be used rather than substantially flatsurfaces for the arm coupling member 205, the shower pipe couplingmember, and the locking sleeve 230.

With reference to FIGS. 2C and 2D, the inner surface of the shower pipe105 may define a shower pipe fluid passage 265 for delivering fluid tothe are coupling member 205 from a fluid source fluidly connected to theshower pipe 105. More particularly, the shower pipe fluid passage 265may be fluidly connected to a fluid passage 270 defined by the showerpipe coupling member's inner surface, or surfaces, to deliver fluid fromthe shower pipe 105 to the arm coupling member 205 via the shower pipecoupling member 210. The shower pipe coupling member fluid passage 270,in turn, may be fluidly connected to a arm coupling member fluid passage275 defined by the arm coupling member's inner surface, or surfaces,thus delivering fluid from the shower pipe coupling member 210 to thearm coupling member 205. Finally, the arm coupling member fluid passage275 may be fluidly connected to a showerhead to deliver fluid to theshowerhead.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-2G, a method of joining the shower armattachment assembly 200 to a shower pipe 105 will now be described. Agenerally cylindrical shower pipe 105 may receive a locking sleeve 230with a generally cylindrical exterior surface. A shower pipe O-ring 235may be placed proximate the threaded end of the shower pipe 105, and theshower pipe coupling member 210 may thread onto the shower pipe 105. Thecoupling member groove 240 of the shower pipe coupling member 210receives the coupling member O-ring 245. Next, the snap ring groove 250of the shower pipe coupling member 210 receives the snap ring 260.Pushing the snap ring's free ends together compresses it so that it maybe received within the snap ring groove 250 of the shower pipe coupling210 in order to slide the shower pipe connection portion 215 of theshower arm coupling member 205 over an end portion of the shower pipecoupling member 210.

The arm coupling member 205 may be joined to the shower pipe couplingmember 210 by sliding it over the compressed snap ring 260 (and thegenerally annular shower pipe coupling member 210) until the snap ringgroove 255 of the arm coupling member 205 aligns with the snap ringgroove 250 of the shower pipe coupling member 210. Once aligned,compressive forces in the compressed snap ring 260 bias a portion of thesnap ring 260 into the snap ring groove 255 of the arm coupling member205, thereby joining the arm coupling member 205 and the shower pipecoupling member 210. Once joined, the arm coupling member 205 may berotated relative to the shower pipe coupling member 210 around thelongitudinal axis marked as A-A on FIG. 2C until its exterior flatsurfaces align with the exterior flat surfaces of the shower pipecoupling member 210 in the desired relative rotational position. Whenaligned, the locking sleeve 230 may be slid over the arm and shower pipecoupling members 205, 210 to substantially prevent further relativerotation between the coupling members 205, 210 as described above.

A second embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly 300 is depictedin FIGS. 3A-3G. Similar to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2G,the second embodiment may include an arm coupling member 305 joined to ashower pipe coupling member 310. Further, the shower pipe couplingmember 310 may be joined to a shower pipe 105. A locking nut 315 (orother suitable device) may join the arm coupling member 305 to theshower pipe coupling member 310. Further, as described in more detailbelow, the locking nut 315 may be used to selectively allow or preventrotation of the shower pipe coupling member 310 relative to the armcoupling member 305. For example, when the locking nut 315 issubstantially threadedly received on the shower pipe coupling member 310as shown in FIG. 3A, rotation of the arm coupling member 305 relative tothe shower pipe coupling member 310 around the longitudinal axis markedas B-B on FIG. 3C is prevented. Continuing with the example, when thelocking nut 315 is only partially threaded onto (as shown in FIG. 3B),or unthreaded from, the shower pipe coupling member 310, the armcoupling member 305 may be rotated relative to the shower pipe couplingmember 310 around the longitudinal axis marked as B-B on FIG. 3C.

With reference to FIGS. 3C and 3D, the arm coupling member 305 may havea connection portion 320 for receiving a coupling segment 325 of theshower pipe coupling member 310. A keying feature may be associated withone or both of the coupling members 305, 310 and may prevent, orotherwise substantially restrict, rotation of the arm coupling member305 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 310. More particularly,as shown in FIG. 3E, an interior surface of the arm coupling member'sconnection portion 320 may include at least one groove 330 that engageswith at least one projection 335 on an exterior surface of the couplingsegment 325. In some embodiments, the arm coupling member's connectionportion 320 may include at least one projection and the couplingsegment's exterior surface may include at least one groove. Engagementof the grooves of either the arm coupling member 305 or the shower pipecoupling member 310 with the other member's projections preventsrotation of the arm coupling member 305 relative to shower pipe couplingmember 310 around the longitudinal axis marked as B-B on FIG. 3C.

Returning to FIGS. 3C and 3D, the arm coupling member 305 of the secondembodiment is similar to the first embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A-2Gexcept as noted. Between the arm coupling member's intermediate andcoupling member portions 320, 325, an exterior surface of the armcoupling member 305 may be stepped to define a locking nut engagementsurface 345. The locking nut engagement surface 345 may engage a flange350 of the locking nut 315 to substantially prevent movement of the armcoupling member 305 relative to the locking nut 315 in a direction awayfrom the shower pipe 105. Further, when the locking nut 315 issubstantially threaded onto the shower pipe coupling member 310 as shownin FIG. 3C, the locking nut 315 presses the arm coupling member 305against the shower pipe coupling member 310. Effectively, threading thelocking nut 315 onto the shower pipe coupling member 310 as shown inFIG. 3C joins the arm coupling member 315 with the shower pipe couplingmember 310 and substantially prevents rotation of the arm couplingmember 305 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 310.

An interior surface of the arm coupling member 305 may be stepped toform a coupling member O-ring surface for positioning a coupling memberO-ring 355 or other suitable seal element between the arm couplingmember 205 and the shower pipe coupling member 310. Similar to thecoupling member O-ring for the first embodiment of the shower armattachment assembly 200, the coupling member O-ring 355 forms awater-tight seal between the arm and shower pipe coupling members 305,310 to substantially prevent water from leaking through the joint formedbetween these members 305, 310.

The shower pipe coupling member 310 may include a lock nut connectionportion 360 for joining the lock nut 315 to the shower pipe couplingmember 310 and a shower pipe connection portion 365 for joining theshower pipe 105 to the shower pipe coupling member 310. The couplingsegment 325, the lock nut connection portion 360, and the shower pipeconnection portion 365 may be integrally formed, or may be separateelements joined together by adhesives, heat or sonic welds, any othersuitable means for joining elements together, or any combinationthereof.

The shower pipe coupling member 310 may be threadedly joined to thelocking nut 315 as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, or joined by any othersuitable method, including, but not limited to, by press fitting,clamping, welding, and so on. To threadedly join the shower pipecoupling member 310 to the lock nut 315, an exterior surface of the locknut connection portion 360 may be threaded. The shower pipe couplingmember 310 may also be threadedly joined to the shower pipe 105 as shownin FIGS. 3C and 3D in a manner similar to the one described above forthe first embodiment.

With further reference to FIGS. 3C and 3D, the locking nut 315 mayinclude a locking nut sidewall 370 and a locking nut flange 350. Theflange 350 may extend radially inward from the locking nut sidewall 370to engage the arm coupling member 305 as described above. An interiorsurface of the locking nut sidewall 370 may be threaded to threadedlyjoin the locking nut 315 to the shower pipe coupling member 310 asdiscussed above. Further, a user may grip an exterior surface of thelocking nut 315, such as the hand gripping grooves 375 shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B, when threading the locking nut 315 on and off the shower pipecoupling member 310.

As the locking nut 315 is threaded onto the shower pipe coupling member,the projections 335 of the showerhead coupling member 310 are receivedwithin the grooves 330 of the arm coupling member 305. As discussedabove, receipt of the projections 335 within the grooves 330 preventsrotation of the arm coupling member 305 relative to the shower pipecoupling member 310. To rotate the arm coupling member 305 relative tothe shower pipe coupling member 310, the locking nut 315 is unscrewedfrom the shower pipe coupling member 310 until the arm coupling memberconnection portion 320 is removed the shower pipe coupling segment 325as depicted in FIG. 3D. Once removed, the arm coupling member 315 may berotated relative to the shower pipe coupling member 310 around thelongitudinal axis marked as B-B on FIG. 3C.

To thread the locking nut 315 onto the shower pipe coupling member 310,the projections 335 of the showerhead coupling member 310 must generallyalign with the grooves 330 of the arm coupling member 305 as shown inFIG. 3E. Such alignment may be obtained by selectively rotating the armcoupling member 305 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 310around the longitudinal axis marked as B-B on FIG. 3C until the armcoupling member grooves 330 align with the shower pipe coupling memberprojections 335. As the number of projections 335 and correspondinggrooves 330 increase or decrease, the number of relative rotationalpositions of the arm coupling member 305 to the shower pipe couplingmember 310 respectively increases or decreases. Any number ofprojections 335 and corresponding grooves 330 may be used.

Similar to the first embodiment, the shower pipe 105 may be fluidlyjoined to an attached showerhead via fluid passages in the arm couplingmember 305 and shower pipe coupling member 310.

A third embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly 400 is depictedin FIGS. 4A-4H. Generally, the third embodiment is similar to the secondembodiment. For example, the third embodiment may include an armcoupling member 405, a shower pipe coupling member 410, and a lockingnut 415. The primary difference between the second and third embodimentsrelates to the keying mechanism for limiting rotation of the armcoupling member 405 relative to the shower pipe coupling member 410.Other features of the various components for the third embodiment of theshowerhead coupling assembly are slightly modified from the secondembodiment to accommodate the alternative keying feature.

With reference to FIGS. 4C and 4D, the arm coupling member 405 mayinclude a connection portion 420 for receipt in a coupling segment 425of the showerhead pipe coupling member 410. Near the arm couplingmember's connection portion 420, an annular keying flange 430 may extendaround a shaft 435 of the arm coupling member 405. Multiple tapered armcoupling member projections 440 (see FIG. 4F) extend from a surface ofthe keying flange 430 abutting the shower pipe coupling member 410. Themultiple arm coupling member projections 440 engage the recesses formedbetween multiple tapered shower pipe coupling member projections 445(see FIG. 4E) extending from an end surface of the shower pipe couplingmember 410 abutting the arm coupling member 405. When each couplingmember's respective tapered projections 440, 445 are engaged withrecesses formed by the other member's tapered projections, the armcoupling member 405 is prevented from rotating relative to the showerpipe coupling member 410 around the longitudinal axis marked as D-D onFIG. 4C. The other portions of the arm coupling member 405 are similarto those described above for the first and second embodiments of theshowerhead coupling assembly.

In a manner similar to the one described for the second embodiment ofthe shower arm coupling assembly 300, the shower pipe coupling member410 may be threadedly joined to the locking nut 415 and the shower pipe105 as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, or may be joined to the shower pipe 105by any other suitable joining means.

Similar to the second embodiment, proximate the threads for joining theshower pipe coupling member 410 to the shower pipe 105, the interiorsurface of the shower pipe coupling member 410 may be stepped inwardlyto receive a shower pipe O-ring 450 or other suitable seal element. Theshower pipe O-ring 450 forms a water-tight seal between the shower pipecoupling member 410 and the shower pipe 105 to substantially preventwater from leaking through the joint formed between them.

A coupling member seal groove 455 may be formed in the interior surfaceof the shower pipe coupling member 410 to receive a coupling memberO-ring 460 or other suitable seal element. The coupling member O-ring460 forms a water-tight seal between the shower pipe coupling member 410and the arm coupling member 405 to substantially prevent fluid leaksthrough the joint formed between them.

The locking nut 415 is similar to the locking nut for the secondembodiment of the coupling member assembly and operates in a similarmanner. The locking nut 415 causes the arm coupling member projections440 to engage the recesses formed by the shower pipe coupling memberprojections 445 as it is threaded onto the shower pipe coupling member410. This engagement prevents rotation of the coupling members 405, 410relative to each around the longitudinal axis marked as D-D on FIG. 4C.To rotate the coupling members 405, 410 relative to each other, thelocking nut 415 is sufficiently unthreaded from the shower pipe couplingmember 410 to disengage the projections 440, 445 from the recesses asshown in FIG. 4D. When disengaged, the arm coupling member 405 may beselectively rotated relative to the shower pipe coupling member 410 tochange the relative rotation position of an attached showerhead relativeto the shower pipe 105.

Further, like the second embodiment, the arm coupling member 405 may beselectively rotated to a position relative to the shower pipe couplingmember 410 to properly align the projections 440, 445 with matchingrecesses prior to tightening the locking nut 415 onto the shower pipecoupling member 410. As the number of matching projections 440, 445 withcorresponding recesses increases or decreases on each coupling member405, 410, the number of relative rotation positions of the arm couplingmember 405 to the shower pipe coupling member 410 respectively increasesor decreases.

Similar to the first and second embodiments, the internal surface, orsurfaces, of the arm and shower pipe coupling member 405, 410 of thethird embodiment may define fluid passages for transporting fluid from ashower pipe 105 to an attached showerhead.

A fourth embodiment of a shower arm attachment assembly 500 is depictedin FIGS. 5A and 5B. Like the previously described embodiments, thisembodiment of the showerhead attachment assembly 500 may be used in anarm assembly, such as the arm assembly 110 shown in FIG. 1A. The fourthembodiment may include a stud 505 connected to an arm cross-member 510.The stud 505 may be fused to the arm cross-member 510, or otherwisesuitably joined, to form a high strength, water-tight connection.Alternatively, the stud 505 may be integrally formed with the armcross-member 510.

The stud 505 may be joined to a tee 515 using threads. The stud 505 maybe selectively rotated relative to the tee 515. The tee 515 may includea tee flange 520 extending from a tee shaft 525 for engagement with astepped, interior surface of a shower pipe nut 530. The tee 515 may beconnected to a shower pipe 105 by abutting the tee flange 520 with thestepped interior surface of the nut 530 and threading the shower pipenut 530 onto the shower pipe 105 as depicted in FIG. 5B. When the studis joined to the tee 515, and the tee 515 is joined to the shower pipe105, the stud 505 may be selectively rotated relative to the tee 515. Ajam nut 535 may be threaded onto the tee 515 to substantially preventrotation of the tee 515 relative to the stud 505. A hole in the jam nut535 for receiving the tee shaft 525 may be sized slightly smaller thanthe outer diameter of the tee shaft 525, thus compressing the tee shaft525 slightly inward onto the stud 505. Such compression locks the teeshaft 525 onto the stud 505, thus substantially limiting rotation of thetee shaft 525 relative to the stud. As the jam nut 535 is thread off thetee shaft 525, the tee shaft 525 is allowed to uncompress, thus allowingthe stud 505 to be rotated relative to the tee shaft 525. Accordingly,sufficiently threading the jam nut 535 onto the tee 515 willsubstantially prevent rotation of the stud 505 relative to the tee 515while sufficiently unthreading the jam nut 535 from the tee 515 willallow the stud 505 to be rotated relative to the tee 515.

A shower pipe resilient washer 540 may be placed between the tee flange520 and the shower pipe 105 to form a water-tight seal between the tee515 and the shower pipe 105, which prevents water from leaking throughthe joint formed between the tee 515, the shower pipe 105, and theshower pipe nut 530. Similarly, a stud washer 545 may be placed betweenan interior stepped surface of the tee 515 and the stud 505 to form awater-tight seal between the tee 515 and the stud 505, which preventswater from leaking through the joint formed between the tee 515 and thestud 505. Fluid passages may be defined by inner surfaces of the tee 515and the stud 505 to convey fluid from the shower pipe 105 to an attachedshowerhead.

Any of the various components for the various embodiments of the armassembly, including, but not limited to, the components of the showerarm attachment assembly, may be formed of plastic, metal, ceramic, anyother suitable metal, or any combination thereof. Further, any ofvarious components for the arm assembly may be integrally formed or maybe formed from two or more parts joined by any suitable joining method.

All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left,right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical,horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used foridentification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of theembodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations,particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the inventionunless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g.,attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construedbroadly and may include intermediate members between a connection ofelements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinderreferences do not necessarily infer that two elements are directlyconnected and in fixed relation to each other.

In some instances, components are described with reference to “ends”having a particular characteristic and/or being connected with anotherpart. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the presentinvention is not limited to components which terminate immediatelybeyond their points of connection with other parts. Thus, the term “end”should be interpreted broadly, in a manner that includes areas adjacent,rearward, forward of, or otherwise near the terminus of a particularelement, link, component, part, member or the like. In methodologiesdirectly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operationsare described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled inthe art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged,replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention. It is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes indetail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shower arm attachment assembly comprising: anarm coupling member operative to fluidly communicate with a showerhead,the arm coupling member comprising a first outer surface; a shower pipecoupling member operative for attachment to a shower pipe andselectively rotatably joined to the arm coupling member, the shower pipecoupling member comprising a second outer surface; and a locking memberselectively engageable with the first and second outer surfaces; whereinengagement of the locking member with the first and second outersurfaces substantially prevents rotation of the arm coupling memberrelative to the shower pipe coupling member.
 2. The shower armattachment assembly of claim 1, further comprising a snap ring joiningthe arm coupling member to the shower pipe coupling member.
 3. Theshower arm attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first outersurface includes a first keying feature; and the second outer surfaceincludes a second keying feature; wherein in a first rotational positionof the arm coupling member the first keying feature is aligned with thesecond keying feature; and in a second rotational position of the armcoupling member the first keying feature is misaligned with the secondkeying feature.
 4. The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 3,wherein in the first rotational position the locking member isengageable with the arm coupling member and the shower pipe couplingmember.
 5. The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 3, wherein: thefirst keying feature comprises a plurality of substantially flatexterior surfaces formed on the arm coupling member; and the secondkeying feature comprises a plurality of substantially flat exteriorsurfaces formed on the shower pipe coupling member.
 6. The shower armattachment assembly of claim 5, wherein the locking member includes aplurality of substantially flat surfaces configured to engage with thefirst keying feature and the second keying feature.
 7. The shower armattachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking member isselectively engaged with the arm coupling member and the shower pipecoupling member by selectively sliding the locking member over the armcoupling member and the shower pipe coupling member.
 8. The shower armattachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the shower pipe coupling memberfurther comprises threads to mate with threads of the shower pipe. 9.The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the lockingmember is a sleeve or a nut.
 10. The shower arm attachment assembly ofclaim 1, wherein: the arm coupling member includes an interior surfacedefining a first fluid passage; the shower pipe coupling member includesan interior surface defining a second fluid passage; the first fluidpassage is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage; thefirst fluid passage is in fluid communication with a fluid inlet of theshowerhead; and the second fluid passage is in fluid communication witha fluid outlet of the shower pipe.
 11. The shower arm attachmentassembly of claim 10, wherein the first fluid passage is substantiallyperpendicular to the second fluid passage.
 12. The shower arm attachmentassembly of claim 1, wherein the arm coupling member further comprises astud; and a tee connected to the stud, wherein the tee is partiallyreceived shower pipe coupling member.
 13. A shower arm attachmentassembly comprising: an arm coupling member operative to fluidlycommunicate with a showerhead and including a first keying feature; ashower pipe coupling member operative for attachment to a shower pipeand including a second keying feature for engagement with the firstkeying feature; and a locking member selectively engageable with the armcoupling member and the shower pipe coupling member, wherein engagementof the locking member with the arm coupling member and the shower pipecoupling member joins the arm coupling member with the shower pipecoupling member and engages the first keying feature with the secondkeying feature to substantially prevent rotation of the shower pipecoupling member relative to the arm coupling member.
 14. The shower armof claim 13, wherein the first keying feature comprises a plurality ofsubstantially flat exterior surfaces formed on the arm coupling member;and the second keying feature comprises a plurality of substantiallyflat exterior surfaces formed on the shower pipe coupling member. 15.The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 13, wherein the first keyingfeature includes a spline formed on a portion of a shaft of the armcoupling member and the second keying feature includes a plurality ofgrooves formed on a portion of a shaft of the shower pipe couplingmember to mate with the spline.
 16. The shower arm attachment assemblyof claim 15, wherein at least the splined portion of an interior surfaceof the shaft of the arm coupling member defines a cavity to receive atleast the grooved portion of the shaft of the shower pipe couplingmember.
 17. The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 13, wherein thefirst keying feature includes a plurality of raised first projectionsformed on an exterior surface of the arm coupling member and the secondkeying feature includes a plurality of raised second projections formedon an exterior surface of the shower pipe coupling member to mate withthe plurality of raised first projections.
 18. The shower arm attachmentassembly of claim 17, wherein: the exterior surface of the arm couplingmember defines a first opening to a first fluid passage in the armcoupling member and the plurality of first raised projectionssubstantially encompass the first opening; and the exterior surface ofthe shower pipe coupling member defines a second opening to a secondfluid passage in the shower pipe coupling member and the plurality ofsecond raised projections substantially encompass the second opening.19. The shower arm attachment assembly of claim 17, wherein the armcoupling member further comprises a shaft; and an annular keying flangeextending around the shaft, wherein the first keying feature extendsfrom an exterior surface of the annular keying flange.
 20. The showerarm attachment assembly of claim 13, wherein the shower pipe couplingmember includes threads and the locking member includes threads to matewith the threads of the shower pipe coupling member.
 21. The shower armattachment assembly of claim 20, wherein the locking member isselectively engaged with the arm coupling member and the shower pipecoupling member by sliding the locking member over the arm couplingmember and mating the threads of the locking member with the threads ofthe shower pipe coupling member.
 22. The shower arm attachment assemblyof claim 13, wherein the locking member is a clamp ring.